Dem Genitals

Phil Rose

Aug 03, 2026

VfL Bochum 0 v Sheffield United 0

Friendly

Saturday 1 August 2026

Played at Ruhrstadion

SUFC 2026/27 Game #5

Ground Tick #560

German Ground Tick #29

Different Ground watching a Sheffield United XI #245

German Beer Ticks up to 172

“Japh Tanganga”

“He's got the biggest dick”

“In the Championship”

If you sang that today about, and to, a Black Man, I'm NOT saying you're a Racist. I'm NOT saying you're an unrepentant Racist Bigot. With no chance of redemption. I'm NOT saying that.

I firmly believe you're singing that because the guy next to you is singing that. That's how singing in football grounds works. You yourself rarely choose the song, you yourself just join in with the song being sung. I'm NOT saying you're a Racist for joining in with that song.

But, I AM saying that's a discriminatory song. And it's not just me saying that. Kick It Out are an organisation fighting discrimination in football. Many football fans will know of Kick It Out. They promote and campaign throughout the game. For example, United players have worn Kick It Out t-shirts in warm ups.

Kick It Out say the likes of that Tanganga song are discriminatory. Kick It Out say that chants about the perceived size of Black players’ genitals are discriminatory.

A Liverpool fan got a ban for flying a flag referencing the size of Divock Origi’s genitals. Ivan Toney asked for a new family friendly chant to replace one about his genitals.

Following chants about his genitals, Romelu Lukaka said “fans have meant well with their songs, but we need to move on together”. When the chanting continued, Romelu reiterated that he would like the song to stop.

Amad Diallo, who was on loan to Sunderland from Man Utd, thanked the fans for their energy and explained how much he loved hearing the fans sing his name. But, he went on to appeal for his genital song to be changed and to be more respectful.

When ‘tache sporting, bubble permed fans at Elland Road sang a song about Wilfried Gnonto’s cock, manager Jesse Marsch said he liked how much the fans loved Wilfried, but hoped that the song could be modified to remain passionate but be more respectful.

These songs about Black players' genitals are not specifically hate songs. They are intended to be celebratory. That was clear when the Bochum Blades were serenading Japhet at the end of that nil-nil.

The chant is seen by chanters as funny, banter and celebratory - even “a compliment”, even “Japh likes it”.

There's a distinction between Racist chanting, and Chants that are Racist.

I'm NOT saying those chanters today are Racists. But I AM saying that's a discriminatory chant. As are Kick It Out. As have other Black Players in the recent past.

Maybe it'll just fizzle out. I hope so. I hope it's a one off and fades out into the distance. We need to fall short of media criticism and statements. So…

Please don't sing it…

Finally, let's high horse it. Over history, Black men have been portrayed as others, as different, as beasts, as animals, to be feared, as invaders, as dangerous, as sexual predators who are going to rape “our” white women. Tropes about the size of Black Men's genitals have been a central part of that othering.

He's got a big dick, we'll need to chain him up…

I know, I know, I know that was not the intention of the chanters today. Still …

Please don't sing it…

Let's never speak of this again. Because, otherwise, this was a joyous football occasion. Very well organised by both clubs. Between the announcement of the game and today, the Blades support galvanised in the way football support does.

Fans commit, not because the team is on a superb run of form, but because other fans are committing. You go, because they're going. I know loads of people who first went on The Shoreham simply because all their mates were going on The Shoreham.

Beering in the fanzone, hemmed in that away corner, surrounded by protective netting, the pitch impossible to see from the front rows because of the stickered screen, indeed stickers on every seat, Bratwurst, and yet more beer in the seats - that's as close as I'm ever going to get to the authentic Bundesliga experience.

I wasn't the only one mind. Many, many other Blades taking advantage of the beer n bratwurst during the game. I made the cardinal sin of not getting a Wurst before the game, and couldn't get near the stall after that.

See Bratwurst, Buy Bratwurst.

Although, I am claiming the beer in the ground as a Tick. The girl behind the counter couldn't really cope with my questions. She basically answered “yes” to everything. I'm confident I ended up with;

Privatbrauerei Moritz Fiege, Leichter Moritz, the lower abv version of their Pils, on Keg at 2.6%

I thought United started the game with a bit more of a press - Peck and O’Hare at it early. But, man alive, VfL cut us open in and through the space behind. Quick and accurate passing between the lines as a successful tactic - who knew?

Meanwhilst, with United's defence looking a bit shaky and likely to concede, we had countered that with the lone striker unlikely to score ourselves strategy. Fuck sake.

In order to get Hamer, O’Hare and inverted right Romelle Donovan into the side, we basically have to sacrifice a “rigid disciplined” left hand side, and sacrifice a striker. I get that, I see that, I understand that. But, here's the thing. If that's how it's going to be, then Gus, Cal, Rom & Tom have to be on fucking fire - and that's not igniting.

I've always liked the idea of a dial him down, dial him up midfield player. Someone who can hold a role. But should the game situation dictate, someone who can be dialled up to support the lone striker a bit more, and/or get in behind himself. As United got more and more on top in the second half, I felt O’Hare was dialled up more. I like that. And I'm disappointed we couldn't/didn't score during that spell.

I was/am a big Rhys Norrington-Davies fan. So I enjoyed the cameo. Whanging about like a mad thing. Bit of wrestling thrown in. Superb.

In need of a post match debrief, we hotfooted to:

Trinkhalle - Bochum

Herner Str. 8, 44787 Bochum

I described it to a mate as not dissimilar to an English Craft Beer Bottleshop Bar. Fridges down the wall with bottles from local breweries, and just a couple of keg beers. But. But. But much earthier and grimier than its English counterpart. More bohemian, more alternative, less chrome and less gloss white.

Privatbrauerei Jacob Stauder (Essen), Original Bierchen, (my description) a Hoppy Lager, from a bottle at 4.5%